The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Aug. 17, 1999
Filed:
Sep. 08, 1997
John V Shutty, Columbus, IN (US);
John J Kaehler, Columbus, IN (US);
Chris Nelson, Columbus, IN (US);
Cummins Engine Company, Inc., Columbus, IN (US);
Abstract
A system for customizing the operation of a vehicle/engine control computer includes a memory card having control computer customizing information stored thereon and a memory card interface unit having at least one signal line connected to at least one existing input signal line of the vehicle/engine control computer. In one embodiment, the memory card interface unit includes a control device operable to control a number of switches each connected to one of a corresponding number of switched input signal lines of the vehicle/engine control computer. The control device is operable to read the control computer customizing information from the memory card and control the states of the number of switches to thereby transfer the control computer customizing information to the vehicle/engine control computer. In another embodiment, at least one output of the control device is connected to an existing high frequency input signal line of the vehicle/engine control computer, and the control device is operable to transfer the control computer customizing information to the vehicle/engine control computer via the high frequency signal line. In yet another embodiment, the control device is connected to the vehicle/engine control computer via an existing data link, and is operable to transfer the control computer customizing information to the vehicle/engine control computer over the data link. The memory card may include electronic or magnetic memory, and may transfer the control computer customizing information to the control device of the memory card interface unit via known contacting or contactless techniques.